| Height: | 262.00+ ft | (79.86+ m) | Elevation: | 7,189 ft (2,191 m) | GPS Latitude: | 36.32762 |
| Volume: | 31,974 ft3 | (905 m3) | Creek: | Garfield Creek | GPS Longitude: | -118.71731 |
| Width: | 21.00 ft | (6.40 m) | Grove: | Garfield Grove | Discovery Date: | |
| Age: | Park: | Sequoia NP | Discovered By: |
Notes: Eric De Groot is the 21st largest tree in Sequoia National Park and the 3rd largest tree in
Garfield Grove. The tree was named to honor Calvin College student Eric J. De Groot of Visalia who
died unexpectedly on August 19, 2013. Friends attached
a small Eric De Groot Tree
sign to the trunk after his death, but the sign has since disappeared.
Drive: Eric De Groot is 227 mi (365 km) southeast of San Francisco near the community of Three Rivers.
Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Route 99 North toward Bakersfield. Drive north 97 mi (156 km) on California State Route 99 and transfer to California State Route 198 East toward Visalia.
Southbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 South in Sacramento, transfer to U.S. Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe. Drive east 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on U.S. Highway 50 and transfer to California State Highway 99 South. Drive south 201 mi (323 km) on California State Highway 99 South and transfer to California State Route 198 East toward Visalia.
Drive east 33 mi (53 km) on California State Route 198, toward Three Rivers, and turn right/east onto Old Three Rivers Road toward Three Rivers Community Cemetery. Drive east 0.4 mi (0.6 km) on Old Three Rivers Road and veer right/east onto Blossom Drive. Drive east 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Blossom Drive and turn right/south onto South Fork Drive. Drive southeast 12 mi (19 km) on South Fork Drive, past South Fork Campground, to the parking area at the end of the road. Walk west on South Fork Road from the parking area to the trailhead.
Road Warning: Although it remains open year-round, South Fork Drive is a rough, narrow, winding road which remains unpaved beyond the park entrance. Low-clearance/oversized vehicles and trailers are not recommended.
Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. From the trailhead, hike southeast 4.7 mi (7.6 km) on Garfield-Hockett Trail, past Bigfoot Tree, to the trail exit point near 36.33101 -118.71621. Leave the trail here and, using a GPS device, hike south/uphill 0.3 mi (0.5 km) off-trail, past King Arthur, to Eric De Groot. After visiting Eric De Groot, hike southeast 110 ft (34 m) off-trail to Floyd Otter or hike northeast/downhill 310 ft (94 m) off-trail to King Arthur.
| Rating: | Difficult | One-Way Distance: | 5.0 mi | (8.0 km) | Ascent: | 4,348 ft | (1,325 m) |
| Time: | 4 hr | Off-Trail: | 0.3 mi | (0.5 km) | Descent: | 678 ft | (207 m) |
![[tree name] Tree Hike Map](hike_map_eric_de_groot.jpg)
View Eric De Groot Tree location in Google Maps
Photos: Pictures of Eric De Groot Tree taken from different sides
